[transcribed by M. Ellis]

Camp near orange C H VA
feb the 8th 1864
Dear parence it is with
pleasure that I am one time
more Blest with the opertunity
of riting to you I am well at
presant hoping these lines will
find you all well and Doing
well I have some nuse to rite
the yankeys has Bin triying to
come a cros the river But
they dident git a cros they
had a nice litle skirmish
yestherday But we drove them
Back and tuck one peace of
artilrey from them and kild
severl yankeys We had a tolerble
hard march last nite they are
looking for a Big fite in NC
that is all the nuse I have to rite
[page 2]
Well I will tell you a bout
Marien him and Calvin testerman
is sent to richmond fo 12 monts
and a tolerble hard punishment
on them they are to do hard
laber and ware a Ball and chane
well mother you said in your leter
that Calvin Childers had rote
to his mother that he dident
get the things that she sent
to him I will tell you he got
evrey thing that was sent to
him and if he rote that he rote
a lie and a damd one at that
and if you dont Beleve me
rite to george Blackmon [1] and
Jarry [2] and they will tell you
the same so I will wind up
with the hope that in a reasenabl
time I may here from you youres
thornton Sexton to prier sexton
[page 3]
A few lines to nancy
Dear sister after respects
to yo I can say that I am
well and harty hoping these
lines will find you well and
doing well I was sorow to here
that father was sick I hope
the next time I here from
you that all will be well
I will tell you I have Bin
fareing tolerble well sence
you left here tell now we
dont git much to eat now
we had a tolerble hard
march yesterday But we
are Back in camp today
so no more onley I still
pronounce my self your
Brother Thornton sexton
Nancy Welch